Brake mechanism for talking-machines



T. H. LOY.

BRAKE MECHANISM FOR TALKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED'JAN. 10, 1917.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

T. Hr LOY.

' BRAKE MECHANISM FOR TALKING MACHINES.

APPLI CATION FILED JAN-10,1917. 1 349,216.' Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ll I M #12 5040 i W I PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. LOY, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

BRAKE MECHANISM FOR TALKING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

Application filed. January 10, 1917. Serial No. 141,633.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. LoY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Terre' Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Brake Mechanisms for Talkingddachines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in automatic brake mechanisms for talking machines in which the brake member is arranged for stopping the rotation of the revoluble record support at a desired time under the control of a traveling member, whether the latter be the reproducer arm itself or an element operable in correspondence therewith.

The primary object is to provide a device of this character capable-of being adjusted so as to enable the stopping of the ma chine at a predetermined time preferably when the reproducer of the traveling member has reached the desired position on the record corresponding to the termination of the sound being reproduced.

Another object in view is to provide for re dy adjustment of certain of the cooperating parts of the mechanism whereby the same may be readily adapted to different styles of well known talking machines and the point of application of the brake may be determined with precision.

It is further comprehended as of the essence of my invention to provide indicating means for obtaining iroper setting of the mechanism for actuation of the brake as predeterminet by certain indicia associated with the record itself and signifying substan tially that point in the sound groove of the record where the rendition of the sound ceases.

To this end the invention consists of brake mechanism including a locking member for holding the brake in retracted position and adjustable releasing means operable synchronously with the reproducer for actuating said brake mechanism to effect a release or application ofthe brake.

For a full understandingof the present invention, reference is to be had to the following description andthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of a talking machine having the preferred embodiment of my invention attached thereto, certain parts of said machine being broken away to disclose the details of construction of the device and showing the brake mechanism in retrac ed position cooperative with the revoluble record support rendering the latter inoperative.

I Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 22 of F 1g. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the subject-matter of this invention showing in full lines the position assumed by the parts preliminary to release of the brake member which has been previously set and in dotted lines the coaction of the releasing means with he locking member for the brake to produce application of the latter for stopping the record support.

Fig. at is a detail view of the locking member for the brake.

F 5 is a detail view of the brake member.

Fig. 6 shows a plan view of a that may be used for determining the point upon different records which are not previously provided with indicia for application of the brake action whereby the adjusting means f the releasing mechanism may be properl adjusted for use.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the adjusting stop for the pawl of the brake member.

Throughout the following detail description, and on the several figures of the drawings, similar parts are referred to by like reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 'lesigi'iates a casing of a talking machine of conventional form in which is contained the driving mechanism for rotating the record support 2 mounted upon the revolving spindle 3 and embodying the reproducer or tone arm l; carrying the repreducer 5 and pivotally mounted interiorly of the casing upon the vertical shaft (3 exteneing above the surface of the casing. The shaft 6, it may be stated, revolves through the instrumentality of operative connections with the reproducer arm and is provided with a cam or lever 7 which is capable of being raised so to establish proper connection for actuating the reproducer arm when its reproducer is cooperating with the sound record in reproducing the sounds therefrom, but when said lever is lowered as in Fig. 1 the reproducer arm is free to be moved manually'into inoperative relation with respect to the record support to enable the record to be displaced and for other objects to be understood as this description proceeds.

As my inventiomwhich is now to be described, is capable of adaptation to different forms of talking machines, I do not wish to be confined to the illustrated embodiment just described. My invention comprises essentially what, for the purposes of this description, may be termed two essential elements, namely the brake mechanism, generally indicated by the character A and the releasing means therefor, generally indicated by the character 13.

The brake'mechanism consists of the brake member 9 which is pivotally mounted on the surface of the casing 1 as indicated at 10, beneath the record support 2 in position for its friction device or shoe 11 to cooperate with the flanged periphery of said support. Cooperating with this brake member is a locking member or latch 12 which is pivotally mounted on the casing 1 adjacent to the,

pivot 10, as indicated at 13 and said locking member is provided with an opening 14 substantially centrally thereof in which a clownsition, so that the locking member 12 will hold said brake member in such position.

The end of the brake member 9 opposite to that carrying the brake shoe 11 has connected thereto a spring 17, the other end of which is connected to the locking member 12 adjacent to its pivot preferably. This spring performs an important function in that it tends to draw the locking member into position for establishing the locking ooplate 18 which is secured to the upturned extremity of said extension by means of the fastening screw 19. As will be observed in Fig. 4, the upturned extremity of the extension 12' is slotted so that the screw 19 may be shifted transversely of the extension tothereby adjust the projection of the trip plate 18 for the purposes hereinafter set forth.

Reverting to the construction of the brake member 9 it will be observed that said member carries thereon a pawl 20 pivotally secured at 21, said pawl having a stop arm 22 adapted to be held against the adjustable stop 24 by means of the spring 23. Said spring normally holds the opposite setting arm 25 of the pawl in. normal operative position in the path'of movement of the releasing device 13 by means of the coaction of which the brake member 9 is set in inoperative position.

Referring now to this releasing device B, it will be observed that the same consists preferably of a plate 26 which is fixedly mountedupon the shaft 6 for rotation therewith synchronously with the rotation of the reproducer arm 4. The plate has connected 8 thereto an arm 27 terminating in a flanged extremity 28 which in the rotation of said plate 26 impinges the setting arm 25 of the pawl 20. This arm 27 is adjustably secured by means of the fastening member 29 beneath the plate and said fastening member also is common to an adjusting member 30. The latter at its inner end has a lateral extension 31 which is arranged to impinge the trip plate 18 of the locking extension 12, when the releasing device B revolves to bring these elements into cooperation. The other end portion of the adjusting member 30 constitutes an indicating pointer 32 which is provided with a knob 33 whereby said pointer may be shifted about its pivot on the plate 26 which bears at its outer peripheral portion certain indicia designated 34. These indicia may be of an arbitrary character involving numerals and a series of lines, 1 all of which bear a certain cooperative relation to the point which represents the termination of thesound which is to be reproduced from the record as said point may vary in different sized records or records of diflerent lengths.

Assuming for the moment preliminary to the general description of the operation that the operator is advised by indicia which is carried by the record or elsewhere that the point where the brake is to be released for application of the particular record which is to be played is determined by a numeral 34 or its equivalent. The operator would adjust the pointerto acorresponding numeral on the plate 26 and the brake mechanism would be in adjustment for proper op eration at the predetermined time.

It may be explained that the most convenient method of securing proper adjustment of this mechanism is by applying some indicia to the record either at the time of manufacture or subsequently thereto such indicia being determined upon by experi mental tests of the termination of the reproduction for it only necessitates under such condition the simple adjustment of the indicating pointer 32 to indicia on the plate 26 which corresponds thereto. Inasmuch, however, as this mechanism is designed to ize be applied to machines of this general type, the mechanism is made adjustable so that there will be a proper correspondence between the indicia on the record and the indicia on the indicator 26. F or example, when the locking member 12 has been secured in operative position upon the talking machine case, and it is desired to accomplish the proper adjustment of the parts with precision, the operator will take a record which bears any predetermined symbol, such as indicated in Fig. 1, and will place said record upon the turntable 2, setting the indicator 32 on the corresponding symbol or indicia of the plate 26. The last part of the record is now played and if the machine does not stop automatically soon enough to suit, the screw 19 of the locking plate extension is loosened and the plate 18 moved toward the releasing mechanism or arm 31; if the machine stops too soon this slide is adjusted in the opposite direction. Once the ajustment' has been properly obtained there will be a correspondence between the indicia which is carried by the record or elsewhere, and the indicia on the indicator 26, where the former has been determined upon by the same method, for all records.

Describing the operation of the mechanism, assuming the foregoing ad ustment to have been properly established and the indicator of the releasing means has been set, the reproducer arm is moved inwardly thus rotating the shaft 6 and carrying therewith the indicator until the setting arm 27 impinges the-projecting arm of the pawl 20 lying in its path; further movement rotates the brake member 9 about its pivot and causes the flange to slide on the edge of the opening 1 1, placing the spring 17 under increased tension until the offset of said opening is reached whereupon the locking member will be moved about its pivot and the flange engaged with the shoulder 16 of said locking member. The brake is thus retracted and the reproducer arm is now set down upon the outer peripheral portion of the record for reproduction, the lever or cam 7 having been raised to establish operative connection of the reproducer arm with the driving mechanism of the talking machine. The release device B will now be rotated again about its pivot with the shaft 6 during the reproduction of the sound record until the reproducer reaches the end ofthe reproduction whereupon the arm 31 of the indicator will impinge the trip plate 18 of the extension 12 and cause the looking member 12 to be moved laterally, thus disengaging the flange 15 from the shoulder 16, allowing the setting of the brake which immediately coacts with, the record support to cause the latter to stop its rotation. Owing to the fact that the pawl 20 is one-wayacting only, the indicator will move readily back to its inoperative position along with the reproducer arm when the driving connection therewith has been disestablished through the instrumentality of the cam 7 as hereinbefore described.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the setting of the brake in its retracted position moves this member into a position out of operative relation to the setting arm 2. so that the latter will pass freely by the end of the pawl 20 and in this manner the locking member 12 is ren dered operative by the release means B.

The method of adjusting the automatic starting of the record support is as follows:

Place the reproducer at the farthest position from the center of the record, in doing which the setting arm 27 will pass the projecting arm of the pawl 20 which yields under action of its spring, then move the reproducer toward the center of the turn table slowly. If the flange 15 cramps against the farthermost edge of the opening 1 1, the

adjusting stop 2% should be utilized so as to change the position of the arm 22 of the pawl disposed thereagainst. This stop is rotated to eifect this adjustment and in the event the flange 15 does not engage properly with the shoulder 16 the same adjusting stop 2a may be adjusted to overcome this defect. Furthermore if the setting arm 27 is not in proper position for cooperation with the arm of the pawl 20, the fastening screw 29 may be loosened, and said arm 25 adjusted about its pivot into proper position whereupon the said fastening means is tightened. The foregoing adjustment of the parts makes possible the readjustment to compensate for the wear on the friction piece 11 incidental to the use of the machine.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a means for determining the indicia which is to be applied to different records in order to facilitate the use of the braking mechanism which is hereinbefore described. Said means consists merely of a gage plate having an angularly bent fingerpiece 36. This plate is provided with certain indicia 37. By placing the end of the gage plate at the opening of the record and observing the point of the scale on this gage which lies at the innermost sound groove of this record, the prop-er designation for that particular record is determined. In the illustration, for instance, the numeral 1 represents approximately the end of the sound groove and said record is suitably designated with the corresponding symbol by means of a paster 38 or otherwise. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention refers that various other means may be employed for arriving at the same result.

It may here be observed that the use in the claims of the terms turn table and reproducer or tone arm is in their generic sense and not in their limited sense. 7 Various changes may be readily made in the details of construction of this device without 7 departing from the spirit of the invention,

and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is: V

1. In brake mechanism for graphophones or-the like, the combination with a turn table and a reproducer arm movable relatively thereto, of braking means including means for holding the same in brake applied and retracted positions with respect to the turn table, and release means operable coincident with the initial movementof the reproducer arm to playing position and engageable with said braking means to retract the same upon movement of the reproducer arm a predetermined extent in one direction, said release means being arranged to cause the braking means to be applied while the reproducer arm continues moving in its playing operation whereby to stop the turn table upon a'greater degree of movement of the arm in the same direction as aforesaid.

2. In brake mechanism for graphophones or the like, the combination with a turn table and a reproducer arm adapted to traverse said table in sound reproduction operation, of braking means, a locking membertherefor including means for holding it in looking position, and means separate from said lockingand braking meansoperable coincident with initial movement of the reproducer arm to playing position to engage and thereby retract the brake and effect an interlocking engagement of the locking member with the brake, said looking member being thus rendered operable subsequently by said separate means to atfect application of the braking means while the reproducer arm continues moving in its playing operation. 7

3. In-brake mechanism for graphop'hones or the like, the combination with a turn table and a reproducer arm adapted to traverse said table in sound reproduction operation, of a brake, adjustable actuating means to retract the brake operable coincident with the movement of the reproducer arm inwardly to playing position, and means for retaining the brake in retracted position when the brake has been actuated as aforesaid, said holding means being disposed preliminary to the actuation in inoperative position with respect to the actuating means but rendered operative by said actuating means when once the brake has been shifted into the retracted position aforesaid whereby said holding means may be disengaged from the brake to apply the same at a'predetermined' point in the movement of the reproducer arm.

4. In brake mechanism for graphophones or the like, the combination with a turn table and a member movable relatively thereto, of brake mechanism including a brake member. arranged to be impinged by and upon the initial movement of the movable member into playing position to retract the brake, and holding means for retaining the brake at such position and in inoperative relation out of the path of said movable member whereby to permit the latter to freely pass thereby for subsequent ac-- tuation of the holding means by the movable member to apply the brake while the movable member continues moving in the playing operation. r V e In a device of the class described, the combination with a turn table and a reproducer arm movable relatively thereto, of brake mechanism including a brake member, ,a locking member for holding said brake in retracted position,and means operable coincident with the movement of the reproducer arm inwardly to reproduction commencement position to preliminarily position the brake automatically by contact therewith i-n retracted position and subsequently to actuate the locking member to effect disengagement thereof and application of the brake while the reproducer arm continues moving in its playing operation.

6. In a device of the-class described, the combination. with a turn table and a reproducer arm adapted to traverse a record supported thereon, of actuating means operable with the reproducer arm in sound reproduction operation, brake mechanism including a brake member normally arranged in the path of movement of the actuating means, said brake member being displaceable by the actuating means upon manual operation of the reproducer arm inwardly into playing position to thereby retract the brake,;holding means also arranged in the path of movement of the actuating means and adapted to hold the brake member in retracted position permitting impingement of the actuating means upon continuation of traverse of the reproducer arm to effect disengagement of the holding means and application of the brake at a predetermined time.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a turn table and reproducer arm adapted to traverse a record supported thereon, ofbrake mechanism including a brake member, a locking member for holding said brake member in retracted position, retracting means operable as an incident to movement of the reproducer arm inwardly into playing position to preliminarily automatically retract the brake and H10? anged '5 iminarily automati rotiact the brake member incident to inward movement of he arm to playing pom for commencement of reproduction ration and subsequently actuate the lockmember to apply the brake at a predetime, and means for adjusting the ans to effect variation of 006; rai fgwiiii the locking member to conie time of applying the brake according to reproduction termination.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with aturn table and a reproducer arm movable relative thereto, of brake including a brake member, a locking, ember for ho ding said brake member in retracted position, release means operable ith the arm arranged to preliminarily re. act he brake by an inward movement to playing position and subsequently to actuate the locking member to effect application of the brake, adjustable means cooperating with the release means whereby to ei ec retraction of the bralte member at uined point in the movement of arm, and auxiliary adjusting means for 'egulatingthe retraction of the brake.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a turn table and a reproducer arm adapted to traverse a record supported thereon, a brake mechanism including a brake member, holding means for holding the brake member in retracted position, an indicator device constituting means for retracting and applying the brake member said means being operative during initial movement of the reproducer arm in the direction to set the same in playing position whereby to retract the brake, and upon further movement in this same direction to effect application of the brake, said. device including an indicator adjustable to predetermine at will the time during travel of the arm as aforesaid of cooperation of the retracting means with said holding means.

ermined 11. In a device of the class described, thecombination with a turn table and a repreducer arm movable relatively thereto, of brake mechanism including a brake member cooperative with the turn table, holding means for holding the brake member in retracted position, an indicator device including a brake retracting arm arranged to move the brake into retracted position as an in cident to movement of the reproducer arm for sound reproduction and thereby rendersaid holding means accessible for operation by the indicator device, and means "-rried by the indicator device arranged to iipinge the hold g means after the brake is retracted as a1 resaid whereby to effect application of the brake at a predetermined time.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a turn table and a reproducer arm movable relatively thereto, brake mechanism including a brake member cooperative with the turn table, holding means for holding the brake member in retracted position, an indicator device including a brake retracting arm arranged to set the brake in retracted position during the initial travel or" the reprooucer arm to playing position and rendering said holding means subsequently operative by the indicator device, and means cooperative with the indicator device arranged to actuate the holding means when the brake is in retracted position, whereby to effect application of the brake at a predetermined time, said last mentioned means constituting an adjustable pointer for predetermining the cooperation of the indicator device with said holding means.

13. in a device of the class described, the combination with a turn table and a reproducer arm movable relatively thereto and including an operating shaft, of brake mechanism comprising a brake member and a locking member for holding the brake in retracted position, means for retracting said brake member comprising a plate carried by the operating shat't aforesaid and bearing indicia, an indicator point er adjustably carried by said plate to indicate the point in the travel of the reproduce! arm desired for application of the brake, said pointer having an extension arranged to retract and subsequently freely pass the brake when the latter is retracted to cooperate with the locking member to effect release of the same and application of the brake.

ll. In a device of the class described, the combination with a turn table and a reproducer arm movable relatively thereto and including an operating shaft, of brake mechanism comprising a brake member and a locking member for holding the brake in retracted position, means for retracting said brake member comprising a plate carried by the shaft aforesaid and bearing indicia, an indicator pointer adjustably carried by said plate to indicate the point in the travel of the reproducer arm desired for application of the brake, said pointer having an extension arranged to cooperate with the locking member to effect release of the same and application of the brake, and a brake retracting arm carried by said plate are ranged to coact with the brake member to set the same in retracted position prior to engagement of the extension with the locking member as aforesaid.

15.In a device of theclass described, the combinatlon with a turn table and a reproducer arm movable relatively thereto and including an operating shaft, of brake mechanism comprising a brake member and alockin g member for holding the brakein :retracted position, means for retracting said brake member comprising a plate carried by the operating shaft aforesaid and bearing indicia, an indicator pointer adj ustably carried by said plate to indicate the point in the travel of the reproducer arm desired for application of the brake, sa1d polnter hav- 1ng an extenslon arranged to cooperate withthe locking member to effect release of the same and application of the brake, a brake retracting arm carried by said plate arranged to coact with the brake member to for, of pivoted release means operated by said reproducer arm to render said means effective for actuation of the locking member, said means including-an adjustable element adapted to cooperate with the locking memher and movable in opposite directions to increase or decrease the arc of movement of the release means requisite to effect engagement of the latter with the locking member, and means disposed to retract the brake upon initial movement of the reproducer arm to playing position.

17. In stop mechanism for sound reproducing instruments the combination of a pivoted brake member, a locking member arranged in cooperative relation to said brake member, tension means for said locking member, said locking member having a, shoulder with which the brake member is engageable to hold the latter in retracted position, and relea. e means operable during initial movement of the reproducer arm toward the axis of the turn table for sound reproduction to impingethe brake member to retract the same from the turn table, and including means for actuating the locking member upon continued sound reproducing movement to disengage said brake member from the shoulder ELfOIGSZLlCl' and thereby effect application brake member,

of the brake whilethe reproducer arm continues moving in its playing operation.

18. In stop mechanism for sound reproducing instruments the combination with a brake member having a flange, 'an arm mounted on said brake member for effecting actuation thereof, a locking member arranged adjacent to the brake member and having an opening therein'to receive the brake flange, said opening'having an offset forming a shoulder with which the flange is adapted to engage, tension means intermediate said brake and locking members, and release means adapted to engage the brake arm to move said brake member into engagement with the shoulder when the producer arm is initially moved to playing position, said releasing means being adapted to engage the locking member for effecting release of the brake from said shoulder.

19. In stop mechanism for sound reproducing instruments the combination of a brake member, a one way acting abutment arm movably mounted thereon, a locking member arran ed to cooperate with the brake member for holding the same in ret acted position, and release means engageable with the arm to set the brake in the said retracted position and including sepa rate means for actuating the tool ber after said brake has been hCbll' effect application of the said brake.

20. In stop mechanism for ducing instruments the combi ation brake member, a spring actuated pawl ried thereby, means for adjusting with respect to the brake member, m an holding the brake member in retra-c tion, and means to actuate the brake me a her through the pawl to retracted pos and by further movement actu holding means to effect application of brake.

21. In stop mechanism for sound reproducing instruments the combination of a a spring actuated pawl carried thereby, an ustable stop member co acting with said pawl for effecting adjustment thereof, a locking me: her for holding said brake member in retracted position and having an interlocking connectionv t" erewith, tension means for said brake and locking n'iembers, a trip element adjustabiy carried by said locking member, and release means comprising a brake retracting arm adapted to cooperate with the pawl aforesaid, and adjusting means cooperative with the trip means when said brake in retracted position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

, Tnoivnis n.

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